Ho model



No. 749,214; PAIBNTED JAN.` 12, 1904.

Y s. N. MGCLEAN.

BREEGH LOADING AND DISCHARGE AGTUATED FIREARM.

APPLICATION IILED MAB. 22, 1899. N0 MODEL. Y 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

mm Nn [We r www No. 749,214. PATENTED JAN. l2, 1904.

S. N. MGCLEAN.

BRBEGH LOADING AND DISCHARGE AGTUATED FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1899.

N0 MODEL.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

signi-lll A' L llllll Ill www No. 749,214. PATENTED JAN. l2, 1904.

S. N. MGGLEAN. BREEGH LOADING AND DISCHARGE AGTUATED PIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 22, 1899.

N0 MODEL. 4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTED JAN. 12, 1904.

S. N. MOGLEAN. BRBEGH LQADING AND DISCHARGE AGTUATED FIREARM.

APPLICATION FILED MAB.. 22. 1899.

4 SHEETS-SHEET A.

N0 MODEL.

UNITED STATES Patented January 12, 1904.

PATENT Ormes.

SAMUEL NEAL MCCLEAN, OF WASHINGTON, IOWA.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 749,214, dated January 12, 1904.

Application tiled March 22, 1899. Serial No. 710,014. (No model.)

To nl] whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, SAMUEL NEAL MoU/LEAN. a citizen of the United States, residing at 'ashington. in the county of Vashington and State of Iowa, have invented new and useful lmprovements in Breech-Loading and Discharge- L Actuated Firearms, of which the following is l a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in breech-loading and discharge-actuated guns, and more particularly to machine-guns, quickg firing ordnance, and battery-guns.

In machine-guns and quick-tiring ordnance as heretofore constructed the use of the highpower or nitrate powders and the enormously high rate of speed firing has subjected their A operating parts to a great variety of severe and destructive strains, which strains tend to render the operation of the gun dangerous, uncertain, and diiiicult, alsoto shorten the i life of enormously expensive guns and to materially and injuriously affect their accuracy of fire.

One object of my invention is to construct a gun which shall remedy the above defects and which shall sustain the strain of tiring in. the line of greatest strength, distribute it correctly on every part of the arm, limit the tiring strain to a small area immediately at or near the end of the barrel.

A further object is to provide a gun in which the operating parts shall be formed with their point of greatest strength at their point of greatest strain and the structural plan of whose operating parts shall be such to avoid all unnecessary and injurious strai-ns. i

One object of my invention is to construct a gas-operated gun in which certain controlling devices shall govern the action of the actuating force of the gas on the operating parts, shall prolong the operation of this force for any required time, shall determine the power or quantity of the force applied, and shall transmit, store, and utilize this force in the operation of the arm.

Heavy ordnance and disappearing guns as heretofore constructed have been rendered enormously expensive and ditlicult of construction by reason of the high-pressure pow- 4l ders and enormous strains involved in tiring i retaining cells.

heavy ammunition, and the tremendous recoil of these arms due to heavy charges employed and their great weight have necessitated the construction of complex, expensive, and enor- Inously heavy apparatus for controlling and neutralizing the effect of the recoil. The gun which l have invented remedies thesel diiiculties by certain gas-controlling means which utilize the force of the escaping gas to overcome or reduce or neutralize the recoil of the arm and utilize the same gas-controlling devices for catching, transmitting, storing, and using the force of the discharge to operate, train. elevate and depress, and generally handle the gun and to provide certain details Vof improvement in' connection with the operat- 1 ing parts of the discharge-actuated gun, which will be hereinafter more fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, which are hereby made a part of this specification, it is understood that the drawings are for the purpose oflillustration only, and inasmuch as the y invention may be made in many forms without in the least departing from the spirit of the same 1 do not limit myself to the precise forms shown and illustrated.

Figure 1 is a longitudinal central vertical section of the rear end of the gun, showing the bolt action and cartridges in elevation. Fig. 2 is a View of the breech-bolt and shellextractors in elevation, its front end broken partially to show the construction of the extractor-groove. Fig. 3 is an end elevation of the breech-bolt. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the cartridge-feeding cylinder L in elevation. Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the bolt-timing latch in elevation. Fig.

. 6 is a transverse vertical section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a broken central vertical section of the rear end of the receiver and frame, showing a modification of the trigger-action. Figi.'y 8 is a broken vertical central sectional view of the barrel and gas-tube. Fig. 9 is asimilar View illustrating a modification of the gas-tube. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary View of the cartridge-belt, showing a transverse section of one of the cartridge- Fig. 1l is a view in elevation of the gun supported in a suitable frame or mount, illustrating the construction of the IOO gas-ltube'and connection and governingde-v vices by which it operates the gun. 1In this figure the trigger-action is'-4 shown in broken central section-and the gunv-carriage-is broken* out and removed on its lright-hand side to exl pose the construction .ofi'vits operating parts.

Fig. 12 is aplan viewofv the cylinders for :traversing or rotating the gun-carriage. Fig.

13 is a cross-sectional view of one ,of the connecting-valves. Fig. 14 is a plan view in elevation illustrating the` gun supported ina vdisappearing',-carriage, the right s'rde wall Aof the carriage being broken away-to illustrate .its construction.- Y Fig. 15 is a plan view of a modified form of -the controlling-valve.

Similar letters of reference refer to'similar parts throughout the specification, and for convenience of description the'diferent parts of the same piece and of intimately correlated pieces have been designated by a 'common ref-v erence-letter, the exponent placed above the letter having been changed to indicate the particular feature of the part to which the letter is intended to bewapplied.

A denotes the barrel and receiver, which- -are vpreferably integrally formed from a single piece or bar of metal in order to attain tages in the construction of the same.

certain manufacturing and -military advan- The outer side of the receiver is preferably Aformed as a round cylinder and without any projections to render its construction complex, and

the inner chamber of the receiver is formed as a straight tube of sufficient.' length to entirely house the breech-bolt inl both its forward andrear positions. The rear end of the receiver is formed with an interrupted thread l machine, thus bringing all its parts intov alinement and greatly Acheapening the cost of constructing the same. The receiver is afterward cut outl transversely, as indicated by the dotted lines in Fig. 1 and shown in Fig. v6, to afford a path of movement for the ammunition-belt. It is also provided with a slotonits under side in which the cam-guideway A' is located. The rear part of this cam-guideway Af is parallel with the bore Vof the receiver and extends forward to a point a little beyond the rear end of the breech-bolt, and.- at this point'the guideway is formed with'a cam part which connects it with the forward part of the guideway A', and this forward part is also formed parallel with the bore -of the receiver. In order to attain certain military and mech anicaladvantages inthe construction and operation of the breech-,bolt andv receiver,

, in Figs. 1 and 7.

ing the recoil and to afford certain advantages 1 in connection with the operation and locking actionof thev bolt. f

The breechbolt H is preferably formed as l acylinder having its rear part hollow and its forward end solid. The front end of the bolt is provided with Va series of 'lugs which' form an interrupted thread and are consecutively arranged to sustain the strain of tiring by entering into combination with companion cam-V .lu on the receiver. The rear part of the breech-bolt is provided with a cam-slot H' to receive and control the action of the drivingrod v This slot H'v has a straight part at its forward end to control the firing action of the gun. The'forward end of the breechbolt is provided with an extractor-seat forming an annular groove around the bolt-head, the bottom of which in longitudinal section is formed Ion the arc of a circle to attain certain advantages in the latching and unlatching action of the extractors.

The shell-extractor is hook-shaped and has a forward extremity for engaging with the flange of thel cartridge and has at its rearward end a flange which in longitudinal section is formed on the arc of a circle for engaging with the extractor-seat to permit a limited latching movement of ,the extractor. The extractor is also provided with acompanion spring,as shown in Fig. 2, which is adjusted -to bear against the bolt-head and exert a for- Wardl and downward tension on the extractors K K The firingpin I isa bar having its forward end tapered and its rear end adapted to r'eceive the firing-blow of the driving-rod. The movement'of thelring-pi`n is limited by the lug .H and is resisted by the spring I. The driving-rod F connects the breech-bolt with lthe gas-action and is preferably@ hollow cylinder having at its rear end a drivingfhead E, formed7with diagonally-shaped cam-lugs E' on itsrespective opposite sides to engage'with the'guideways A. )The part E also has a projecting arm. which extends. up into the breech-bolt through the slot H' and vprojects intol the path -of the ring-pin I. This part Eis also provided with a scar-notch for er1- gaging with the trigger D or sear D4, as shown l The forward end of the driving-rod F is provided with a cylinder-head F', which is formed with annular grooves to contain a suitable preparation for preventing the injurious action of the gases of discharge. The. gas-tube Ffis bent at its forward end, ,as illustrated in Fig. 8, and is provided `witha screw-thread for attaching it to the gas-charnits rearward end, against which the rearward end of the spring F2 rests in exerting its tension against the piston-head F.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a modification of -tube for the purpose of cleaning or applying a suitable application to prevent the corroding or injurious action of the gases of discharge. The gas-chamber A2, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, is integrally formed in the end of the barrel, and the front end of the barrel is bored out to a diameter sucient to allow the gases of discharge to escape round the projectile in such manner as will 'suiiciently reduce the pressure or force of thegas, and the chamber is made suihciently long to continue for any desired length of time the pressure of the gas within the chamber and upon the operating parts. The rear end of this chamber is provided with a long taper which terminates gradually in the size of vthe bore of the barrel to cause a greatly-diminished and gradually-increasing power in the force of the gas exerted on the operating parts.

The frame C is formed to be attached on the under side of the receiver and is preferably formed at either its front or rear end to interlock with the receiver, and at its other end may be screwed to the receiver in any suitable manner, one of which retaining-screws is illustrated by dotted lines in Fig. l. The rear end of the frame C is formed with a pistolgrip C7, as shown in Figs. l and 7, and this grip is connected with the trigger-guard and may have any form required to adapt it to the grip of the hand or finger. it is provided on its forward side with a slot or chamber to receive and control vthe trigger-lock D2 of Fig. 7. rihis lock D8 has a limited movement and is formed with two companion shoulders, which are movable into and out of the path of the trigger D2. The frame C is chambered on its inner side to permit the action and movement of the driving-rod F and is also chambered or mortised to permit the action of the 'trigger D, also the modified form of the trigger D2 and the sear D2. The trigger D is pivotally supported in the frame C and has a tension-spring D. The forward end of this trigger is provided with a sear-nose to engage withthe driving-rod to control the liring action by direct engagement with the searnotch of the rod. The modified form of the trigger shown at D2, D3, and D4 interposes a sear Di between the driving-rod and trigger, and the Sear-nose D2 is' interposed between the trigger and seal' to Vform a toggle-joint andv to afford additional lifting power in disengaging the sear.

' The frame C is chambered at its middle or forward part to receive, retain, and control the feeding-cylinder L, and-this cylinder Lis pivotally retained in the frame and may be formed to projectiup nearly into line with the bolt-chamber, in which construction the under side of the receiver would be 'cut out to permit the beltfeeding. cylinder to be so placed in close relation with the bolt-chamber, and in such construction the cylinder L could be formed as a hollow tube having its operative connections on its inner side and ends and the driving-rod could be allowed to pass through the tube. as illustrated, however, is placed in the frame beneath the driving-rod and`projects at its opposite sides into the path of the ammunitionfeeding belt with which'it engages. The sides of the frame C are formed with flanged guideways to receive and guide/the ammunitionbelt, as shown in Fig. 6, and on the left-hand side of the gun this guideway is shown hinged to the frame in order to permit .the ammunitionbelt'to be guided in any required manner in its passage into and across the path of the bolt.

The cylinder L is formed' with a series of guideways, which engage with the pin F7 of the driving-rod F to control the rotating feeding movement of the cylinder L. rlhese guideways are formed with forwardly-projecting straight parts L', which are connected with each other at their rearward ends by diagonal or J7-shaped cam-guides L and L7. 'ihe V- shaped point which connects these guides with each other is formed as a cam-switch. it is pivotally attached to the cylinder and has a wedge-shaped forward end, and its rearward end is spring-actuated to cause the switch L4 to lie against the sides of the track, thus compelling the pin F7 to travel always in a fixed direction through these cams, the camguide L6 being operated by the rearward travel of the driving-rod and the cam-guide L7 being operated by the forward travel of the drivingrod. it is apparent that in a modi-fied construction of the cylinder the straight part of these guides L could be omitted, thus materially shortening the length of the, cylinder and forming the guides L6 and L7 so that they will open into each other at both their front and rear ends. The cylinder L is also provided with lugs or arms L2 for engagement with the ammunition-feeding belt,

rlhe spring-latch A4 (shown in Fig. 5) is formed to engage with a companion notch or depression in the breech-bolt and to maintain the same latched engagement with the breechbolt until its locking and unlocking action is complete, thus affording a means for timing the locking action of the bolt.

The cartridge-belt K may be formed of any suitable material and may be either a metallic or any other necessary kind of belt. rlihis belt retains the cartridges G by means of a cartridge-retainer N. This retainer 'N is riveted to the belt and is formed with companion sides or arms which conform to the shape of the cartridge. The rear end of these cartridge- This feeding-cylinder L,

IOO

retainers N is flanged or beveled to permit the breech-bolt to pass through the retainer in feeding the ammunition to the barrel, and this flanged part of the retainer N is slotted or cut out to permit a suicient elastic action of the retainer. The retainer is also formed with -lugs N', Fig. l0, to engage with the copper or gun-carriage, and P the base on which the' carriage is rotated. 0 denotes a series of slightly-conical rollers on which the carriage turns, and I3 denotes the air-reservoir, which is supported in and rotated with the frame, and' U3 denotes a pair of companion cylinders, which are formed on an arc of a circle and are attached to and rotated with the carriage. In this figure "the gas-tube F4 is divided by the wall F8 into a front and rear chamber, the

rear chamber forming an air-compressing cylinder, and the driving-rod F is provided with an air-compressing piston F10, movable in this chamber and causing the driving-rod to act as an air-compressor. In other respects the driving-rod and gas-tube are similar to that hereinbefore described, and the forward end of the gas-tube F4 is for-med to retain and guide the piston F and spring F2. The relation of the gas-tube to the gas-chamber A2 is essentially similar to that hereinbefore described, and its preferred form is shown in Figs. 8 and 9. The driving-rod F is provided with openings located in front of the piston F10 and opening into the tube in the center of the rod F Ato prevent the formation of an aircushion in the forward end of the air-compressing cylinder.

The air-compressing chamber is connected with the air-reservoir P by the pipe F, and the air-reservoir is again reconnected with the forward end of the air-compressing chamber by the pipe F12, and the 'connecting part of these-pipes is formed eXible to permit the elevating and depressing movement of the. gun.- The air-compressor is alsov provided.

with a valve F13, which permits a free passage of air into the chamber and prevents its exit.

In Fig. 1l, S designates an air-cylinder attached to the carriage or mount for the purpose of pneumatically governing the elevat tubes S11 and S12; These tubes are suitably connected on the opposite sides of the fourway valve S1. This Valve Sw is connected with the air-reservoir by the pipe P, Fig. l 1, and is operated by the connecting-rod and hand-wheel S". A two-way valve P15 is provided in the pipe F12 and is governed by the connecting-rod and wheel P16. The intake-pipe F, which connects the air-compressor with the air-reservoir, is provided at its lower end with a suitable check-valve P7 to prevent the return escape of the air from the reservoir. The air-reservoir I is provided with a pipe P10, which connects with a four-way valve P, and this valve is governed by the connecting-rod and wheel P12 and is suitably connected with the pipes F13 and IJ, which pipes connect with the cylinders 0. Movably retained in the cylinders 03 are the piston-heads F5 and piston-rods P4. These rods are attached to the frame, and the construction is essentially similar to that shown in Fig. l2. In Fig. 12 one mode of attaching these cylinders to the carriage is shown, and a mode of attaching the cylinderrods P4 to the base is also shown.

In Fig. 13 is illustrated a form of the twoway valve S1", showing its manner of registering with its tubes S1l and S12, together with the external openings S13 and S, with which the valve registers to permit a partial escape of the air from the cylinder S through either the tube S11 or S12.

In Fig. 14 the gun is shown supported in a disappearing gun-mount or gun-carriage, and the power controlling and transmitting devices are shown in a form adapted to run the gun to battery and to withdraw the same. In this figure the base is denoted by the referenceletter P and is similar to that hereinbei'ore described. T he carriage or mount is denoted by the reference-letter O and is supported on the base by a series of slightly-conical rollers O. In a general way, the carriage as here illustrated dilfers `from that hereinbefore described by being formed to adapt it to a different mode of connection with the gun and by having .projecting arms on its front and rear sides to support its manner of engaging with the gun. The carriage as here presented is bifurcatedv at its upper side to aford space for the movement of the gun and in a general way may have any required form to adapt it to the gun with which it is intended to be used. The power controlling and actuating devices of the gun are essentially similar -to that hereinbefore described, excepting that lthe air-cylinder S and its piston S and piston-rod S4 Iis here modified to adapt it to operate and control the battery action of the gun.

gAs shown in'this ligure, the cylinders S are formed on thefarc of a circle, as hereinbefore described, and are bolted to the side of the gun-carriage in such manner as to conveniently permit the piston-rod S4 to be pivotally attached at its upper end to the trunnions of the gun, and an auxiliary cylinder S15 is supported on the arm or bracket at the rear i side of the gun-carriage to afford a similar engagement of its piston-rod S16 with the pistolgrip C of the gun-frame C.

In the invention, as illustrated in Fig. 14, the power controlling devices of the gun, comprising the gas-chamber A2, the gas-tube F2, the driving-rod F, With its actuating-spring F2, the gas-cylinder F2; and air-compression cylinder F, are essentially similar to that hereinbefore described, and the power transmitting and storing devices, comprising the air-chamber P and the connecting-pipe F, are. essentially similar to that hereinbefore described, excepting that the pipe F1j is formed iiexible throughout its entire length to permit the necessary battery movement of the gun, and the controlling devices, comprising thevalvesystemandconnecting-pipes, arehere modified to attain certain advantages in the battery movement of the gun. The pipe P2, as here shown, connects with the air-reservoir P and is connected by the pipes S17 and S18. with the valves S12 and S20. These valves S19 and S2o are retained in a suitable valvechamber, which may be either iXedly attached to or integrally formed with the frame and are duplicates of each other. They are preferably superimposed one upon another in the same cylinder or valve-chamber, the righthand valve having an operating-stem which projects at the right-hand side of the valvechamber and to which is attached a wormgear and companion gear-wheel t`o operate the valve on the right-hand side by the action of the rod and hand-wheel S21,and the lefthand valve has a similar connection on the left-hand side with the rod and hand-wheel S22, and these controlling-wheels are provided with index-fingers to indicate on a suitable dial the movement of the valve. These valves S19 and S20 may have any suitable system of connecting valve-passagesyto adapt them to the required registering action of the valve, but are preferably shown as three-way valves, two of which ways have a common connecting or registering point. The valve-chamber S23 has a connective opening with the tube S18 and a companion connection with the tubes S2i and S25 and is also provided with registering openings S2 and S27 and on its opposite side is provided with a companion series of openings to connect with the pipes S17, S28, and S29 and with the openings S2 and S21, and the passage-ways within the valves are formed to correctly register with these openings. The tube S22 connects the right-,hand valve Swwith the forward end of thecylinder S on the rights hand side of the gun and is bifurcated or double at its forward end to allow it to connect in a similar manner 'with the left-hand cylinder S, which is not shown and which is formed on the opposite side ofthe arm in a manner identically similar to that which i s` shown in Fig. 14, and the connectingpipe S22 has a similar construction and connects i the left-hand valve S20 in a similar manner with the right and left cylinders S at a i point behind the head of the piston S. The tube S24 connects the valve Sl2 with the forward end of the cylinder' S12, and the tube S2R i connects the valve S2Iwith the cylinder S2 at i a lpoint behind the head of the piston S12, the controlling of the rear end of the gun being accomplished by a single cylinder and piston. The elevating and depressing of the gun may be controlled in amanner hereinbefore described or by any suitable form of screw adjustment, one form of which is shown in the screw and dial S22, which governs the pivotal relation of the piston S16 with the frame C.

In Fig. 151 have shown a modification of the controllingfvalve, which is denoted'by the reference-letter S22. This valve is preferably operated by a worm-gear similar to that described in connection with Fig. 14. This valve S33 is a single valve, and is provided with a system of connecting-passages which registers with and controls the action of all the pipes which connect with both the front and rear cylinders S. This valve S23 in its preferred form is a live-way valve, one of which ways is double, and all the ways are so formed that they shall register correctly with the different pipes leading to the respective opposite ends of the cylinders S, and the valve-chamber in which the valve S33 is located is provided with the exit-openings S3* and S25, with which the valve-,passages register to afford exit from the respective opposite ends of the cylinders S.

The` operation of the gun is as follows: Supposing the breech-bolt and operating parts, as shown in Fig. 1, to be in the forward or locked position of the bolt and the cartridge tobe pushed into the barrel and the part E of the driving-rod in engagement with the Sear-nose Aof the trigger D, apull or grip of the hand on the trigger D will operate to lift its searnose out of engagement with the driving-rod, thus permitting the driving-rod to traverse the straight part of the slot H' and by its terminal movement to engage the iiring-pin I and force it against the cartridge to discharge the same. The projectile when it enters the chamber A2 at' the forward end of the barrel permits the gases of discharge to escape around the ball, and the beveled or funneled shape of the rear end of the chamber allows the gas to escape around the ball in a'gradually-increasing quantity, thus reducing the pressure of fthe gas-current to a satisfactory amount before allowing the force of the gas-current to be Ythrown onto or againstthe operating parts. The projectile in its passage through the gaschamber A2 operates as a valve .to partially close the chamber and to continue this action for any required length of time. As soon as the projectile has entered the chamber A2 the shape of this chamber causes a gradually-in- IOO IIO

' creasing amount of the gases of discharge pass through the opening A3 -into the gas-tl'ibe F4, and when the rear end of the proJectlle has traveled far enough to'com'mence passing the opening A3 the quantity vof gas which es- -capes through the opening Aiinto the gastube F is allowed to increaseuntil the projectile has. passed entirely across the .opening A", and the opening As may have any desired length or shape tocontinue, prolong, or 1ncrease the quantity of gas which passes lnto .the gas-tube, and this construction will afford it passes forward. After -the` projectile has passed beyond the opening into'the gas-tube the diameter of the chamber A2 permits a large part of the gases of discharge to escape around the projectile, thus reducingthe pressure of the gas-current to any desired famount, and the. length of the chamber A causes this pressure of the gas-current on the action to be maintained for any desired length of timeor until the pressure of the `gases of discharge' against the driving-rod F has unlocked 'and moved the breech-bolt back to its open position. This actionl of the driving-rod F compresses the spring lF2 and operates the aircompres'sing piston Fi of the driving-rod, as shown in Fig. 11, at'the same time that it unlocks and withdraws the breech-bolt. `'.lhls air-compressingaction of the driving-rod transmits and stores the power of the drivingrod in a mannen-hereinafter described.

The operation of withdrawing and returning of the breech-bolt is as follows: When the breech-bolt is in its forward position and the cam-lugs E' are in the forward part ofthe' guideways Av of the receiver, the pressure of the gases of discharge against the pistonon-the forward end of the driving-rod cau es the part Of the driving-rod which projects t rough the slot H to traverse the straight part of this slot,l thus giving to the driving-rod an initial momentum before it encounters thevcam or diagonal part of the slot H. This construction' greatly increases the power of the driving-rod instartingthe initial extraction of the shell. A further movement of the driving-rod causes the -lugs E to traverse the guides A- until the car part of these guides elevates the part E of the driving-rod into -latched engagement with the rear end ofv the breech-bolt, as'shown in Fig. 1', and the passage of that part of the driving-rod which projects through the slot H in the breech-bolt causes the breech-bolt to be turnedl or rotated until its locking-lugs Hz'have been disengaged from their companion locking-lugs of the receiver, when the further backward movement of the driving-rod causes the bolt to be withdrawn to open position,- at which time the modification -of the trigger action shown in the driving-rod and .retain it in .its-rear position, thus allowing the weaponl to be usedA as4 a single-loaden pull of the hand on this trigger D2: will operate to release the sear D* from of the driving-rod with the breech-bolt is maintained by the movement of the lugs E through the rear part of the guides A' until the lugs the driving-rod, and the latched engagement- Fig. 7 will permit the sear D* to engage with I' E' have reached the position shown inv Fig. l and have engaged the cam part of these guide ing arm ofthe driving-rod in and through the cam part of the slot H' causes the breech-bolt- 'toroll vto its locked position and brings the with the bolt, and the passage of the projectdriving-rod into engagement with the ringpin, as hereinbefore described. The bolt-timing latch A4 is spring-pressed and is provided with a conical point, which engages with'a companion conical depression or V-.shaped A groove inthe breech-bolt and maintains a semilatched condition of thepbreech-bolt during the latching and unlatching action of the-driving-rod with the breech-bolt, thus affording additional positivene'ss to the operation of the breech-bolt and driving-rod. The shell-extractors', 'as illustrated in this application, are shown supported in an annular extractor-seat, the bottom of which is /forrned on an'arc ofpa ,circle,and this construction permits av sort of hinged relation of the extractor with the positivelyv and steadily by the extractor-seat during the necessary movement of the extractor to permit -it to engage with the flange of the shell and to cause it to lock positively with the shell in the processxof extracting the same. The extractors are preferably provided with breech-bolt and allows the extractor to be held. I

IIO

a spring to maintain a yielding tension between the extractor and the seat in which it turns. This method of attachingor hinging the extractor to the breech-bolt remedies the diculti\s and uncertainty in the action of the extractor which exists in other methods of forming the extractor and attaching it to the bolt. In the modification -of the firing device shown in Fig.j 7 the scar D* and toggle D3 are introduced to afford additional elevating o r vdisengaging power of the trigger` in freeing the driving-rod to either load vor lire the arm,

. and vthe-trigger-lock Ds is pivotally supported 4in- \tl 1e pistol -grip to.,.allow it to be tur'ned againstfthe trigger, thuslocking itout of action, orto be turned to a point slightly beyond. this, bringing its second shoulder into the path of the trigger and permitting the partial firing movement of the same. This partial movement of the trigger raises the sear out of` 'the breech-bolt in a similar manner.. The

semi-automatic action of the arm may be controlled by any suitable construction of the trigger which will permit the sear to rengage with the driving-rod after each successive pull of the trigger. In the semi-automatic iringaction, as shown in Fig. 7, a complete pull of the trigger carries it out of engagement with the notch DB of the sear D4 and permits the engaging part of the trigger to drop into the deeper notch D7, thus allowing the sear to reengage with the driving-rod after each successive shot.

The invention may be applied to any suitable form of magazine system or of magazine-feeding system; but l have shown in Fig. l an ammunition-belt provided with any suitable series of cartridge-retaining cells, one form of which is shown in Fig. 6. This ammunition-belt has a movement into and across the path of the breech-bolt, and this movement is interrupted or controlled by a combination of the cartridge-belt with the drivingrod and breech-bolt to consecutively feed the cartridges from the belt to the 'barrel and to Withdraw and remove them. This feeding action or combination between the drivingrod and the ammunition-belt is preferably controlled by a system of cam-guideways, one

form of which is shown in Fig. 4, and the operation of the preferred form or feeding action of the belt is as follows: Supposing the pin F7 to be in the forward part of the guide- Way L', (see Figs. l and 4,) the rearward movement of the driving-rod causes this pin to traverse the straight part of the guide L' and to enter the cam part L6 ata time when the breech-bolt has been fully withdrawn.

' movement of the driving-rod F carries the pin F7 past the point of thel spring-pressed latch The passage of the pin F7 through the part L6 causes a turning movement of the cylinder L, and the engagement of the lugs L2 with the slots M' of the cartridge-belt causes the belt to roll the cartridge partiallyinto the path of the breech-bolt. The terminal rearward L, and the tension of the springfL on this latch causes it-to drop back against the side of the cam-guide L's and to open the guide L7 the returnor forward movement of the pin The initial forward movementof the driving-rod causes the pin F7 to traversevthe cam-guide L7 and' in so doing completes the 'feeding movement of the cartridge belt,

bringing the cartridge into line With the bore of the barrel at a time when the breech-bolt has been advanced far enough to bring its forward end and the shell-extractors into proper relation with the iiange of the cartridge. The passage of the pin F7 past the latch L4 at the forward end of the groove L7 causes this latch L4 to be swung out of the path of the pin F7 and to close in behind the pin F7, the switch L4 thus operating to open and close the-camguideway L7, and the action of these camguideways L.6 and L7, together with the camlatches L, thus operating to cause an interrupted rolling movement of the cylinder L and a resulting interrupting feeding movement of the cartridge-belt.

The operation of utilizing the forces of the discharge to handle and generally manipulate the arm is as follows: The air-compressing cylinder F74 and the piston Fw, Fig. 11, utilize'the direct power of the gas through the medium of the driving-rod to store some of the energy of the gases of discharge at the same time that the driving-rod operates the bolt-action. W hen the driving-rod, actuated by the force of the discharge, travels back in the gas-tube F", it causes the piston F to force the air out of the air-compressing cylinder F14 into and through the connecting-pipe F, causing the air to be forced past the checkvalve P7 into the air-reservoir P'. The checkvalve P7 permits the air to pass freely into the reservoir P and prevents its return passage, the action of the air-compressing cylinder F and piston F10 thus causing the driving-rod F to store a part of vthe energy of discharge in the airreservoir P by each successive discharge of the arm. During the rearward movement of the piston Fw the check-valve F13 prevents the escape of air from the air- .compressing cylinder F, except through pipe F12, and the three-way valve P15, which is attached to this pipe, is turned in such manner as to permit `the air to escape through the valve P15 freely into the air. This pipe F12 also operates as a return connection between the forward end ofthe air-compressing cylinder F14 and the air-reservoir P', and the valve P being a three-way valve may be turned so as to close its external opening and cause the valve to open a continuous passage from the air-reservoir P' through. lthe pipe F12 to the forward end of the air-compressing chamber F, thusv allowing-the returned force of the compressed. air towithdraw the breech-bolt and set the vdriving-springF2 for the purpose of charging the arm or to accomplish the primarylloading of the arm, after which the valve may bepturned back-to itsoriginalposition IOO IIO

IZO

and will then register with and form an external opening for the pipe F12. 1t is also apparent that suitable circular openings in the driving-rod F (see Fig. 11) may be formed to prevent the formation of an air-cushion in the air-compressing cylinder F11.

The operation of the gun elevating and depressing device for utilizing the force of the discharge to elevate and depress the arm is as follows: The pipe P11 opens into the air-reservoir P and permits the compressed air to pass up into the valve S111, and this valve S10 may be any suitable form of valve, which may be turned to consecutively and either partially or entirely register with the pipes S11 and S12, which connects it with the respective opposite ends of the pneumatic cylinder S. In order to cause the valve S10 to move the piston in either direction and" tostop and lock it in an air-pressure at any point of its movement in the cylinder S, I'have shown in Fig. 13 a form of two-way valve, which is preferably housed in a valve-chamber having five openings. The ways in this valve S10 are preferably formed larger than the openings with which they register, and the external openings with which the valve registers, S13 and S11, are preferably formed smaller than the other openings.

Then it is desired t elevate the gun, the operation is as follows: rPhe valve S1O is turned until one of its two ways shall register with the pipes P11 and S12, thus forming a continuous passage for theescape of the air from the. air-reservoir into the rear end of the cyhnder S, exerting a powerful air pressure against the rear side of the piston S11. The other way in the valve at this time registers with the pipe S11 and with the small external opening S13, thus permitting a small amount of air to escape slowly or rapidly, as may be desired, from the forward end of the cylinder S through the pipe S11 and external opening S13, and it is apparent that the valve S111 may be turned, so as to either partially or entirely register with the opening S111 or may be so turned as to close this opening S13 entirely, thus allowing the piston S to be gradually forced forward and the gun elevated to any required aim and to pneumatieally lockvit there when the valve is turned far enough to close the opening S13. The valveways S10 are formed larger than the openings into the pipes S11 and S12 in order to allow the valve to be fully registered with these openings and only partially or not at all registered with the openings S13 and S11.

When it is desired to depress the arm, the operation of the valve is exactly the reverse of that described, or the valve is turned until its other valveway registers with the opening into the pipe P1 and with the opening into the pipe S11, thus giving a direct connection of the pipe S11 with the air-reservoir P', allowing the air to escape from the air-reservoir into the.

forward end of the pneumatic cylinder S and at the same time causing the other way of the valve to register with the pipe S12 and with the opening S11, making a direct external opening between the rear part of the pneumatic cylinder S, through the pipe S12 and openingiS11 to the air, and permitting the force of the compressed air to move the piston S1 back to any required point at which time it may be pneu matically locked by turning the valve in such manner as to close the openingS11. This valve S11 is controlled by the valve-rod and knurled wheel S1 and may be provided with a suitable dial and finger or with suitable stops to govern its movement in either direction.

The carriage rotating or traversing is eonto cause the pipe P13 to register with the pipe P111, making a continuous passage from the airchamber P to the left-hand cylinder 01. The air-current is in this manner permitted to pass through the pipe P13 into the cylinder O3 and the piston-head P5, and the piston-rod P1 being ixedly attached to the base P and the cylinder O3 being fixedly attached to the gun-carriage the passage of the air into the left-hand chamber O11 causes the gun-carriage to swing round to any desired point. During this time the valve P11 connects the pipe P11 with an external opening which permits the air to escape from the right-hand side of the cylinder in a sufficient quantity to allow the necessary turning movement of the gun-earriage. The reverse turning movement of the valve P11 swings the carriage in an opposite direction by forming a connection of the pipe P11 with the air-reservoir P and causing the pipe P13 to register with the external opening in the valve, thus permitting the passage of air through the valve P11 into the right-hand cylinder G11, and the exit of the air from the opposite cylinder causes and permits the guncarriage to be swung round in the'reverse direction.

In that form of the invention shown' in Fig. 14 the operation of the power-controlling, power ^transmitting, and power-storing devices is essentially similar to that hereinbefore describedthat is to say, that the action of the gas-chamber, gas-tube, driving-rod, driving-spring,air-compressing cylinder, and boltaction isidentically similar to that hereinbefore described, and so, also, is the operation of the transmitting-tube F11 and air-reservoir P'. rPhe operation of the pneumatic cylinders S and S11differs from the operatibn of the pneumatic cylinders hereinbefore described by being attached to the carriage and gun in such manner as to control the battery action of the arm by means of a power-transmitting device which connects these cylinders with the air- IOf reservoir P. It is apparent that any suitable system of valve connection which will afford a free passage of the compressed air from the airreservoir t" into the forward end of the pneumatic cylinders S and S15 will operate through the action or' the pistons S4 and S11 to raise the gun to its battery position, and it is also apparent that the gun may be withdrawn from its battery position by any suitable system of valve connection which will transmit the force of the air-reservoir P into the air-cylinders S and S5 behind the piston-heads S4 and S1 providing that an exit is vafforded to the air in the forward part of the pneumatic cylinders. As shown in Fig. 14, however, the operation ot' the pneumatic cylinders S and S15 is controlled by a right-hand three-way valve, which controls the passage of the air from the air-reservoir to the forward end of the pneumatic cylinders and a left-hand threeway valve, which controls the passage of the air from the air-reservoir P to the rear side.

oi' the pistons Si and S12, and thesevalves operate to alternately open and close these connections and to provide the necessary external escape for the air-pressure.

The lifting of the gun to its battery position is controlled by the right-hand valve, and this valve is operated by the hand-wheel S21. This hand-wheel S21 is connected with the valve by a worm-screw, which is similar to that shown in Fig. 15, and by means or' which the valve is rolled through lits connection with the hand-wheel S21. When this right hand valve is turned to the position shown. in Fig. le, its double valveway connects the pipes S2i and S25 with the pipe S18, thus erming a direct passage from the airreservoir into the forward end of the pneucylinders S and S15, and it is apparent thatif the left-hand valve, which is governed by the hand-wheel S22 and a similar wormscrew connection, is turned untilits valveways shall partially register with the external openings S2o and S22 a gradual escape lof the air from behindA the cylinders will cause the gun to raise to its battery position, and by opening or closiwI these valves it may be stopped and held in a pneumatic lock at any intermediate point of its movement. lt is also apparent that the reverse of these valves, causing the right-hand valve to register with its external openings or partially register with the same and the left-hand valve to register the pipes which connect with the air-reservoir P', will edect a movement of the pneumatic pistons S4 and S16 in the opposite direction-and will depress'the arm. in this Fig.

tion shown in Fig. 15, it connects with the airreservoir by registering with the pipes S17 and S18 and connecting them with the pipes S24 and S25, which lead to the forward end ofthe pneumatic cylinders, thus controlling the raising of the gun to battery at a time when the pipes S28 and S21, which connect with the rear end of the pneumatic cylinders, are registered or partially registered with the external openings S34 and S35. The reverse movement of the pneumatic cylinders is effected by turning the central or double valveway into connection with the pipe S12, thus causing this pipe S18 to connect the pipes S28 and S29 with the air-reservoir P and causing the pipes S21 and S25 to either partially or entirely register with the openings S35 and S3, thus admitting the air behind the piston-heads in the cylinders S and S15 and withdrawing the arm from its battery position. rlhe pin-and-slot relation of the pin S37 limits the movement oi' this valve to give the necessary travel.

Having now fully described my invention and its mode of operation, what l claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

l. lin a gun, the combination with a barrel and a receiver integral therewith, of a breechbolt, a driving-rod directly actuated by the gases oi' explosion, anda cam-guide for the driving-rod, said guide controlling the operatige relations between the bolt and drivingro 2. in a gun, the combination with a barrel and a receiver, of a breech-bolt having abutments thereon, and revoluble on its longitudinal axis to engage corresponding abutments in the receiver, a cartridge-belt passing transversely through the receiver, actuating devices therefor, and a driving-rod in operative relation with said' breech-bolt and with said actuating devices.

3. in a gun, the combination with a barrel and a receiver, of a breech-bolt having interrupted screw-threads engaging correspondingly-interrupted screw-threads in the receiver, a cartridge-belt passing transversely through the receiver, a cam-cylinder in operative engagement with said belt and actuating devices Jfor said bolt and cylinder.

4:. in a gun, the combination with a barrel and a receiver integral therewith, of a cylindrical breech-bolt having interrupted screwthreads engaging correspondingly-interrupted screw-threads in the receiver, a cartridge-belt passing transversely through the receiver` actuating devices therefor, and a driving-rod in operative relation with the breech-bolt, and with said actuating devices.

5. ln a gun, the combination of the receiver having the cam-guideway, the breech-bol t having interrupted screw-threads engaging correspondingly-interrupted threads in the receiver and having a hollow cylindrical portion containing the tiring-pin, said cylinder lOO IIC

. ber, a piston in said tube or cylinder, and a removable plug in said tube or cylinder in advance of the forwardposition of said piston. 8. The combination or the air-compressor, with discharge-actuated means operatively connected to said compressor, and a graduating device controlling the application' of power to said means upon the discharge of the gun. 9. The combination ofthe air-reservoir and compressor, with discharge-actuated means operatively connected to said compressor, a graduating device controlling the application of power to said means upon the dischargeof the gun.

10. The combination of the breech mechanism and the air-compressor, with means moved ,by the gases of explosion to operate said breech mechanism and compressor.

11. The combination of the breech mechanism and the air-compressor, with dischargeactuated means operatively connected to said breech mechanism and compressor, and a graduating device controlling the application of power to said means upon the discharge of the gun.

12. The combination of the breech mechanism and air-compressor, with gas-actuated means connected to said breech mechanism and compressor, and a graduating device controlling the application of power to said means upon the discharge of the gun.-

13.v The combination of the breech mechanism and air-compressor, with a gas-tube open to the gases of explosioma piston playingin said gas-tube, and connections between ,said piston and compressor, and between said piston and breech,` mechanism for simultaneously operating thecompressor and the breech mechanism by the gases of explosion.

14. Thecombination of the breech 4mechanism and air-compressor, with the gas-tube open to the 'gases of explosion, devices graduating the tension of said gases therein, theA driving-rod having a piston playing in said tube, and operative connections between said rod and the breech mechanism and the compressor.

15. The combination of the breech mechanism, air-compressor, and reservoir, with the gas-chamber, the gas tube or cylinder commumcating therewith, the driving-rod having a piston playing in said tube or cylinder, and

operative connections between said rod and the breech mechanism and the compressor.

16. The combination of the air-reservoir, compressor, and breech mechanism, with discharge-actuated means operatively connected to said compressor and breech mechanism, power actuated elevating, depressing andh training devices, and valve-controlled connections between said devices and the reservoir.

17. The-combination of the air-reservoir, compressor, and breech mechanism, with discharge-actuated means operatively connected to said compressor and breech mechanism, a motor for operatingv the gun, and valve-controlled connections between the reservoir and motor.

18. As a means of elevating and depressing a gun, a cylinder with its piston and rod formed in the are of a circle, one element being attached to the gun and the other to the carriage, in combination with an air-reservoir and compressor, discharge-actuated means operatively connected to said compressor and a valve-controlled passage between the reservoir and said cylinder. I

19. In a gun, the combination of a receiver, the breech mechanism, and ammunition-belt passing t1 ansversely through the receiver, a feed-cylinder operatively engaging said belt, reversely-inclined cams on said cylinder, and terminating at their forward ends in a straight cam-groove, and a d1'iving-rod engaging and operating the breech mechanism and said cylinder.

20. The combination of the ammunitionbelt with a feed-cylinder having positive feeding engagement with the belt, a series of longitudinal parallel grooves on the cylinder, each groove being connected to its adjoining groove in either side by cam-grooves and converging to a point between said longitudinal grooves, spring-switches at the points where vsaid cam-grooves meet each other and where `they unite with the longitudinal grooves, and

a driving-rod having apart engaging in said grooves.

21. The lcombination of a driving-rod and an ammunition-belt, with a feed-cylinder having reversely-inclined cam-faces thereon, with means on the driving-rod alternately operating on the cam-faces to shift the cylinder and engaging and holding the cylinder in its shifted osition. v

2. The combination of a driving-rod, a feed-cylinder normally held against revolution by said rod, an ammunition-belt operatively engaged by said cylinder, reversely-inclined cam-faces on said cylinder, cam- Iof mounted thereon, with an air-compressor con` nected to such reservoir and discharge-actuated means operatively connected to the breech mechanism and to the compressor.

25. rlhe combination of the gun, the guncarriage, the air-reservoir carried thereby, the elevating and depressing cylinders formed in an arc of a circle, the pistons of like form moving in said cylinders, one of said parts being attached to the carriage and the other to the gun, and connections between the reservoir and cylinders.

26. The combination of the gun, the compressor, the gun-carriage, the air-reservoir supported thereon, connections between the compressor and the reservoir, the arc-shaped elevating and depressing cylinders with their pistons, one of which .is attached to the gun and the other to the carriage, and connections between said cylinders and the air-reservoir.

27. The combination of a transversely-slotted receiver, a cartridge-belt, .and means intermittently moving said belt through the receiver and locking said belt against movement in the intervening intervals.

28. vThe combination of the gun, the gaschamber, the gas-cylinder connected thereto, the driving-rod having a piston playing in said cylinder against the tension of a spring, an air-cylinder, a piston on said driving-rod playing in said air-cylinder, the breech-bolt directly connected to said driving-rod, and the cartridge-belt-actuating cylinder directly operated by said rod.

29. The combination of a gun, the doubleacting pis-Lon in the cylinder under the gunbarrel actuated in one direction by the gases of explosion and in the reversed `direction by a spring, a second piston connected to the first piston by a suitable rod and playing in an aircompressor cylinder, the air-reservoir connected to the last-mentioned cylinder and the breech mechanism of the gun operatively connected to the gas-actuated piston.

30. The combination of a gun-barrel, its

lll..

breech mechanism, a gas-cylinder connected to the gun, connections between said cylinder and the gun-barrel, means permitting a gradually-increased pressure of the gases of explosion to pass from the gun-barrel to the cylinderuipon the discharge of the Weapon, a piston in said cylinder and direct connections between said piston and the breech mechanism. 31. 1n a gun, the combination of the gunbarrel, having a gas-chamber formed near the muzzle end thereof, a receiver, a cylindrical ,breech-block playing in said receiver, a gastube connected to said chamber, a piston in said tube, a driving-rod connected to said piston and operatively engaging the breechblock, a cartridge-belt having intermittent movement through the receiver in the path of the block, a feed-cylinder for said belt and means on theA driving-rod alternately shifting said feed-cylinder and locking it against movement.

32. In a gun, the combination of breech mechanism, meansactuated by the gases of explosion for operating said breech mechanism With means graduating the force with which the gases of explosion are applied to said means.

33. The combination of a breech-block, and the intermittently-moving cartridge-belt with meansactuated directly by the gases of eX- plosion for intermittently operating said belt and bolt and locking the belt against movement during the intervening intervals.

34. The combination with a gun and its mount, with means'operated upon the discharge of the gun to store power, means whereby a portion of said power'may be applied to train the gun, and means whereby a portion thereof may be applied to elevate and depress the gun.

35. The combination of the breech-block, the gas-operated driving-rod, a cartridge-belt operatively connected to said rod, and the pivoted guide for said belt.

36. The combination of a breech-block and the extractor, rocking on thefront end thereof, the seat therefor being a portion of a sphere.

SAMUEL VNEAL MCCLEAN.

Witnesses:

D. W. EDELIN, WM. H. DE LACY.

IOO 

